Preventing the spread of norovirus-like infections by the airborne route using plasma assisted catalytic technology (PACT)

Abstract

Zoonoses are frequently reported, and outbreaks of the highly pathogenic influenza virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and Middle East respiratory syndrome have occurred recently, in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Sterilization using a chemical reactor with plasma assisted catalytic technology (PACT) was investigated. Tests were carried out on the feline calicivirus (FCV) vaccine strain F9, which is a surrogate of airborne pathogen human norovirus. Results showed that the PACT device could inactivate FCV, which passed through the plasma chamber. Sterilization rate may be more than 99.99% (below the detection limit). These results indicate that PACT may be an effective mean to inactivate many viruses, including human norovirus, and potentially other airborne, infectious microorganisms.

Evaluation of intracellular materials by biophotons released from cultured cells irradiated with atmospheric-pressure plasma

“…Atmospheric-pressure plasma also shows an inactivating effect on viruses, and good inactivating effects have been obtained even in experiments using an influenza-like virus 6) and norovirus-like virus (feline calicivirus). 7) In addition, since the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was confirmed in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019, it has spread all over the world, and WHO declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. In particular, the number of deaths due to pneumonia and lung disease associated with COVID-19 infection is increasing, and the situation remains a crisis.…”